Growing cucumbers in the Moscow region
Growing cucumbers in the Moscow region is a laborious process. The region is characterized by a changeable climate. To grow a rich crop, you need to carefully choose the variety and seeds.
Growing cucumbers in the Moscow region
Cucumber varieties
When choosing a variety for a garden, it is necessary to determine the place where the cucumbers will grow: in a greenhouse, greenhouse, or in an open area. Decide in advance when you will harvest in order to choose the appropriate variety.
How to choose a variety
Cucumbers are grown for canning for the winter and for fresh consumption. It is recommended to choose a variety for universal consumption, for example, Non-Gentile.
The weather in the Moscow region is unstable, drought alternates with high humidity. Spring frosts destroy young seedlings. Breeders have developed suitable hybrids for the Moscow region that can survive unstable weather conditions, variable humidity, and disease.
It is recommended to choose cucumbers, taking into account the following parameters:
- Ripening terms - choose varieties that ripen quickly, in 43-50 days.
- Appointment - universal, salad, pickling.
- Pollination - in the changing climate of the Moscow region, one should choose parthenocarpic (self-pollinated).
Many people grow 7 types of cucumbers at the same time in one area. By combining self-pollinated and bee-pollinated.
Adapted varieties
Cucumbers in the Moscow region are chosen as follows:
- Goosebump is a self-pollinated early variety with small gherkins and pimples. They grow in greenhouses and outdoors. Consumed fresh.
- Courage is a species that is highly fertile, one bush gives up to 25 kg, with proper care. Resistant to frost and disease.
- Masha - well grown in the Moscow region. Early variety, fruits are long, slightly bitter, medium-sized. The crop is harvested after 30 - 35 days from the date of sowing.
- Vir 505 - excellent in taste, medium early. The length of the cucumbers is about 11 cm. Suitable for pickling, pickling and canning.
- Petersburg Express. Early variety, small cucumbers. They are used fresh, not suitable for preservation and salting. They begin to bear fruit after 40 days from the date of sowing.
You can also plant in the suburbs, cucumbers varieties: Altai early, Nerosimy 40, Sovkhozny, Vyaznikovsky, Union, hybrids Magnificent, Competitor, hybrid MOVIR, Yielding 86, Santana, Libelle, Farmer, Stork, Claudia, Blizzard, Nightingale, Blizzard, Zhuravlen Cellar, By the pike's behest, Annushka, Spring.
Preparing open soil
It is important to carefully choose the site for planting.
If you plan to plant salad cucumbers in the Moscow region, you need to carefully choose a site.
Planting time
Cucumber bushes will harvest when planted at the right time. Sowing of cucumbers in open ground in central Russia begins in late May - early June. Sown until mid-June.
The crop can be obtained two weeks earlier by planting seedlings in mid-May, in order to transplant them to open soil by the end of the month. This will protect the cucumbers from frost.
Seat selection
The place should be protected from winds and have enough sunlight. Pay attention to which crop was growing in the soil in front of the cucumbers. Cabbage, onions, perennial herbs, and potatoes work well. It is not recommended to plant cucumbers in one place for several years in a row.
Plot
The plot begins to be prepared in the fall. You need to dig up the ridge, the size is at your request. Loosen the soil several times. Just before sowing, the process is repeated.
Convenient when your site is rectangular. The place of the proposed landing is fertilized in advance. Dig a long, deep trench up to 25-30 cm. Fertilizer is placed on the bottom:
- sawdust;
- straw;
- peat;
- grass;
- leaves;
- manure.
Such preparation will insulate the beds. Top can be sprinkled with wood ash. It is recommended to apply 6-8 kg of fertilizer per 1 sq. M. (Locally).
Chicken droppings are fine too, but high toxicity can damage the plant, so pre-soak and dilute with water.
An organic fertilizer will not only provide the necessary nutrients for the soil, but will also increase the permeability of the air.
Seed preparation
Seeds need to be prepared for planting
Preparing the seeds before sowing will increase the number of seedlings. Check the seeds for suitability, as follows:
- dipped in salt water;
- seeds that have surfaced are unsuitable for sowing;
- then washed with clean water and dried.
Warming up the seeds will give its result. Place them in the oven, set the temperature to 50 degrees, stir occasionally for 4 hours.
The seed can be soaked in a light solution of boric acid with potassium permanganate. You can additionally harden the seeds. The seeds are pink or otherwise (purchased) do not need hardening, germination and steeping.
Disembarkation rules
You need to sow 2-3 seeds in the hole. It is necessary to observe the distance between the holes in half a meter, if 1 row. And up to 1 m, if 2 rows. The distance between the rows is 0.5-0.6 m. After planting, the cucumbers do not need to be watered, the abundant moisture will displace oxygen.
Bush care
Like any other plant, the cucumber requires regular watering, loosening and proper feeding of the bushes. You need to take care of the cleanliness of the soil, since weeds grow faster than cucumbers and take up nutrients.
Watering
Cucumber is a water-loving plant. It is necessary to pay special attention to watering, the quantity and quality of fruiting directly depends on this. At the seedling stage, the cucumber does not require a larger volume of water; on the contrary, excess moisture will retard development. With the appearance of lashes, watering should be in moderation, a large amount of water at this stage will delay flowering. When the bush begins to actively bloom and bear fruit, watering is carried out more often, the soil should be constantly moist. It is not recommended to water with cold water, especially in the heat. Water when the heat of the day subsides - in the evening or early in the morning.
Top dressing
Open field cucumbers in the Moscow region need fertilizers. Weather conditions in central Russia are not always stable, and heavy rains can wash nutrients out of the soil. It is necessary to carry out additional feeding. When growing seedlings, nitroammofosk is added. Two weeks after planting in the ground, watered with urea. It is necessary to help the cucumber form a bush by tying the threads or making a mesh in advance.
Pest control
Diseases and pests can destroy some of the crop.
Aphids are the main enemy of the cucumber. Insects settle under the leaves and suck out all the juices. It is necessary to spray with an infusion of nettle, diluted in water with laundry soap, infusion of wood ash or infusion of tobacco. Ladybugs will also help you in this matter.
Sprout fly larvae damage young seedlings and seeds. During the growing season, plants need to be treated with Karbofos and Funanon preparations.
White spots may appear on the surface of the leaves - this is powdery mildew. Before sowing cucumbers, it is necessary to disinfect the garden bed and remove all plant residues. In the fight against it, treatment with fungicides will help. If the disease cannot be cured, repeat the spraying.
Conclusion
Use our tips for growing cucumbers in the Moscow region in 2018. The crop does not need to be planted in one place for several years. Choose the optimal sowing time. Caring for cucumbers will ensure a high yield.